Best Lunch Restaurants in McCormick Place

"Sticking with the theme of escaping the cold, another option if you’ve landed in Chicago at the wrong time is to go to Summer House Santa Monica, where the plants and California vibes will make you forget (albeit temporarily) where you are. The glass ceilings provide the perfect amount of lighting for the perfect #nofilter photos."

"How important are cookies to the ethos of this Lettuce Entertain You Lincoln Park favorite?. The huge display case is the first thing you see when you walk in the door. That is no accident, my friends."

"Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Summer House is the perfect place to escape the city to feel like soaking up the sunny vibes of the West Coast. The setting features..."

"Fat Rice, the popular Macanese restaurant-bakery-bar, serves what the chef-owners, Abraham Conlon and Adrienne Lo, call “Euro-Asian comfort food.” Indeed, their signature arroz gordo, or “fat rice,” fits the bill: Hailing from Macau, this dish is similar to paella (a vestige of Portuguese colonialism heavily influenced by Spain) and features char siu, linguiça sausage, Spanish rice, olives, and sliced hard-boiled eggs. Though Fat Rice made an impression on Chicago when they opened in 2013, the team continues to make exciting changes: 2016 brought a bakery, which offers a Chicago-style hot dog bun that looks like a blooming flower; and a bar, the Ladies’ Room, where Annie Beebe-Tron leads a program of deeply unique cocktails that embrace ingredients like umeboshi vinegar, shiso cumin bitters, and house-made chartreuse and Ginjinha. View this post on Instagram"

"Make sure to visit The Bakery at Fat Rice|Courtesy of Fat Rice. Fat Rice, specializing in a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese food, had already earned rave reviews from the majority of Chicagoans when they opened The Bakery, offering sweet and savory delights during the day. Egg tarts, sweet buns and a dark chocolate brownie are among a few of the treats on the sweet menu; the savory menu contains highlights like cremoso, which is filled with a savory custard, bacon and scallions."

"Lasalle Street, the shop offers a comfy atmosphere and impressive selection of coffee, tea and sweet treats. If cold-brew is your coffee of choice, we recommend the Nitro Cold Brew on tap. Don’t be surprised when the drink comes out looking like a Guinness in a tall frosted glass."

"A post shared by S A R A • N E Y (@saraneyauthor) on Dec 13, 2018 at 7:39am PST. The Goddess and The Baker is always worth a visit especially when you’re spending the holidays downtown. It’s no surprise that the bakers go all out in December."

"Goddess and the Baker is casual Chicago café chain with iconic and colorful baked goods. The bistro features breakfast and lunch, as well as delicious baked goods."

"Only in Chicago could a joint that blasts heavy metal music, refuses to carry Budweiser, and stirs a controversy with the Catholic Church, be adored. Kuma’s Corner has become a destination in every food lover’s pilgrimage. Depending on what you order, your burger may include bourbon poached pear, roasted poblano peppers, avocado mash and other inventive ingredients."

"If you like your burgers with a side of heavy metal (and ridiculous mac and cheese), Kuma’s your guy. Just don’t be alarmed ordering the Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden. Also Try: Au Cheval, DMK Burger Bar, Shake Shack"

"Wishbone, a family owned, independent restaurant, has been cooking southern style, made-from-scratch comfort food for more than 30 years. You can get bacon and eggs anywhere but Wishbone's Shrimp & Grits, Blackened Catfish, Jambalaya Omelette, Chicken Andouille Hash and homemade biscuits in pork sausage gravy will wake up your neurons and digestion. There aren't many places in the Midwest offering signature cornmeal pancakes made with sweet corn and scallions with roasted red pepper sauce plus two eggs."

"Come for Southern-style soul food, full of flavor and served in a casual, relaxed environment. The quirky, funky warehouse-style space (abstract paintings of chickens and eggs adorn the walls) offers breakfast on weekdays and a popular weekend brunch. Try fluffy biscuits, French toast, salmon cakes with hollandaise, or a house specialty called Red Eggs, which consists of two eggs on corn tortillas with black beans, cheese, hot sauce, sour cream, and salsa."

"You'll feel instantly uplifted upon entering Blue Door Farm Stand, a bright, two-story Lincoln Park restaurant outfitted with modern-meets-rustic touches like iron chandeliers, exposed wooden beams, plush seating, and a long marble bar. A local and seasonal approach drives the menu here, with a compilation of classic brunch plates that take some contemporary twists. Try the flavor-packed bell pepper and bacon Benedict (with chèvre, heirloom tomatoes, and spring onion), or go lighter with the veggie burger."

"As the name suggests, farm-to-table is the game at this rustic restaurant that pulls produce and other ingredients from nearby farms. For those whose resolutions are still intact, order the smoked chicken salad on multigrain bread. If not, opt for the apple pie and bacon grilled cheese."

"Tucked away at the edge of Lincoln Park that juts out into Lake Michigan, the Montrose Bird Sanctuary is a 15-acre wooded respite that features a few peaceful mulch-covered hiking trails to stroll through. What was once a site of Army barracks from the ’50s to the ’70s is now one of the best places in the area to spot a few of the tens of thousands of migratory birds from more than 300 different species that reportedly stop for some green space along their trek along the lake. Within the sanctuary, a 150-yard stretch of honeysuckle bushes has been nicknamed “The Magic Hedge,” because it attracts an especially high number of migratory birds."

"UptownThis more laid-back section of Montrose Beach is both a dune habitat and a bird sanctuary, as well as one of the best spots for trail hiking in the city with killer skyline views. If that’s not enough, there’s also a beach bar. And a damn fine beach bar at that."

"The list of great Chicago parks is long but we’d be remiss if we didn’t include: Washington Park, one of the cities biggest and best parks, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe; Ping Tom Memorial Park (originally a railroad yard) in Armour Square; the 55-acre Horner Park in Albany Park; Portage Park; Northerly Island, where many concerts are held in the summer; and Oz Park in Lincoln Park, a kid-friendly sculpture park featuring "The Wizard of Oz" creations."

"Maggie Daley Park is one of the most fun things to do in Chicago. It’s basically a gigantic, all-ages recreation area that resulted from the crazy visions of an architect who never said no to any idea. As a result, the park offers a million different amenities in delightfully clashing ways."